Reclining article of furniture



Dec. 15, 1953 LORENZ 2,662,582

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed May 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. ANTON LOREN Z ATTORNEY Dec. 15, 1953 A LORENZ 2,662,582

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed May 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 a g 9 i i f INVEN TOR. ANTON LORENZ TORNEY Dec. 15, 1953 LORENZ 2,662,582

RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed May 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ANTON LORENZ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to a reclining article of furniture.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reclining article of furniture wherein the seat and back-rest constituting movable links of a constrained complex linkage may be readily tilted from a sitting position into a reclined position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reclining article of furniture wherein the seat and back-rest constitute movable links of a constrained complex linkage or-whcrein alegrest swingably mounted on the seat may bepropelled to a great extent during the initial tilting of the back-rest and the seat from the sitting position into a reclined position.

A further object of the present invention is to improve on the art of reclining articles of furniture as now ordinarily made.

With the above and other objects of the inven tion in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various elements and parts, as described herein after and set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same being described in the specification and being illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view or a tiltableonice chair, v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fi 1,

Fig. 3 isa side elevational view of another em-- bodiment of a tiltable chair,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of an armchair, a portion of a side wall of the frame being broken away,

Fig. 5 is a simplified diagrammatical illustration of the link systems of the armchair shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view' taken on line 6-43 of. Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1--'!- of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of another embodiment, of an oiiice' chair,

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of an office chair,v

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of an armchair, a portion of a side wall being broken. away, and v Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line ll-ll of Fig. 10.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, generally indicates a support of an oilice chair, said support being in the shape wardly extending portion of the back-rest 26 at 30. Each of said lower links 28' is pivoted at 32 to an adjustable bracket 34 of the pedestal or support 20-. A roller 36 is rotatably mounted at 38 at the front end of each lower link 28. Said roller 36 is in shiftableengagement with the lower surface of the seat 22. Furthermore, on each side of the chair, one end of a guiding link 40 is pivotedto the bracket 34 of the support 20 at 42. The other endof said guiding link 40 is pivoted to the back-rest 26 at 24in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection between the back-rest 25 and the seat 22. Thus, the ofiice chair comprises a constrained complex linkage having a plurality and a stationary link. A portion of the support between the pivots 32 and 42 is included in said constrained complex linkage as said stationary link. The movable links of the constrained complex linkage include the seat 22, the hack-rest 26, the lower link 28 and the guiding link 40.

The sitting position of the movable links of the constrained complex linkage shown in full lines is limited by stops 4:! arranged on forward extensions of the bracket 34 for abutting engagement with the seat 22. Compression springs 46 arranged between said forward extensions of the bracket 34 and the lower links 28 act as a load on said lower links and tend to urge the movable links of the article of furniture into the sitting position.

When the user of the chair presses against the back-rest 26, the movable links of the chair may be brought against the action of the springs 46 from the full line sitting position into a reclined position, for xample into the reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, whereby the back-rest 26 and the seat 22 are tilted to a certain extent. The movable members of the chair may be returned into the sitting position by shifting forwardly the weight of the person resting on the chair; the compression springs 46 acting as biasing means assist in the return of the movable members of the chair into the sitting position.

On each side of the chair the rear end portion of an arm-rest 48 is pivoted to the back-rest 25 at 58]. The front end portion of the arm-rest 48 is pivotally connected at 52 with the upper portion of a bar 52, the lower portion of which is pivoted to the seat 22 at 56.

According to the embodiment of a chair shown in Fig. 3 the chair comprises a seat I22 pivoted to the back-rest 522 at I24. On each side of the chair, the downwardly extending portion of the back-rest Q26 is pivoted at Kit to the rear end portion of a lower link I28 swingably mounted on the support 122 at i22. The front end portion of the lower link I28 carries a roller I36 engaged with a bracket [58 mounted on the lower surface of the seat 22. Said roller I36 is in shiftable engagement with the seat structure 122. A bellcrank lever ltd is swingably mounted on the support i223 at M2. The arm Hill of said bell-crank lever itii acting as a guiding link is pivoted to the seat i222 at I25. The other arm 962 of said bellcrank lever I22 is connected with one end of a tension spring 24, the other end of which is fixed to a stationary point of the support I20.

Thus, the chair shown in Fig. 3 comprises again a constrained complex linkage. The guiding link 226, however, is pivoted to the seat I22 at We at a point spaced from the pivotal connection I22 between the back-rest I26 and the seat i22.

When the back-rest I25 is tilted from its sitting position into a reclined position, for example th reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, the remaining movable links of the chair are brought into the dash and dot line position whereby the seat E22 is tilted in dependence on the tilting of the back-rest i245. The spring I62 has the tendency to return the movable links of the chair into the sitting position.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of th roller E25 against the wall it of the bracket 958 acting as a stop. The extreme reclined position of the movable links of the chair is limited by an abutment of said roller [38 against the wall I68 of said bracket E52 likewise acting as a stop.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs.

4-7, the support 22% comprises connected side frames 2H and 22 i, the upper portions of which constitute the armrests of the armchair. On each side of the chair, the rear end portion of the seat 222 is pivoted at 222 to lugs 221 rigidly connected with the back-rest 226. Lower extensions 2255 of the back-rest, in rigid connection with the latter, extend downwardly on each side of the chair and are pivoted at 232 to rear end portions of lower links 228. Each lower link 228 is swingably mounted at 232 on a stud secured to the side frame of the support 220. The front end portion of each lower link carries a roller 235 shiftably. engaged with the lower surface of the seat 222. An arm 220 of a bell-crank lever 278 swingably mounted on a transverse rod 222 ofthe support is rotatably engaged with a transverse rod 223 connecting the downward extensions 229 of the back-rest 226 with each other. As may be gathered from Fig. 6 said bell-crank lever Elli is arranged in the center of the chair. The arm 2 32 of said bell-crank lever 2'"! acts as a guiding link.

A leg-rest 2'52 swingably mounted on the front end of the seat 222 at 212 is pivotally connected at 22 with one end of a controlling link 212, the other end of which is pivoted at 286 to the arm 232 of the bell crank lever 212. Said arm 282 constitutes a controlling element of the controlling mechanism connected with the leg-rest 212.

The sitting position (shown in full lines) of the armchair is limited by an abutment of the arm 282 of the bell-crank lever 210 against a transverse rod 284 of the support, which acts as a stop. The extreme reclined position (shown in dash and dot lines) of the movable members of the chair is limited by an abutment of said arm 282 of said bell-crank lever 21!) against a stop 286. As best shown in Figs. 4 and '7 said stop 286 is slidable in a slot 288 of the side frame 22 l. The stop 282 may be adjusted in a desired position by means of a crank 29!] connected to said stop through the medium of bevel-gears 222 and a shaft 294 screwed in to the bore of a member 292 connected with one end of the stop 28%.

The leg-rest 2'52 connected with the guiding link 24% through its controlling mechanism 218, 282 constitutes a load acting on the movabl links of the chair for returning same from a reclined position into the sitting position.

Fig. 5 illustrates in a somewhat simplified manner the constrained complex linkage of the arm-chair shown in Fig. i. The link-system of the armchair includes the seat 222, the back-rest 226, the lower link 228 and the guiding link 242. The links 222, 226 and 228 ar connected with each other at 222 and 239 respectively. The roller 23!? of the lower link 228 is in shiftable engagement with the seat 222. The guiding link 246 swingable about the stationary point 242 is pivoted to the back-rest 226 at 223 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 222 between the back-rest 225- and the seat 222. The leg-rest 2T2 swingably mounted on the seat 222 at-2l i is pivoted to the controlling link 2T8 at 276, said controlling link 218 being pivoted at 280 to the controlling element 282 rigidly connected with the guiding link 2%.

According to the embodiment of an ofi'ice chair shown in Fig 8. a seat 322 is movably connected with a pin 328 carried by the back-rest 326, whereby a pair of pivotally connected links is formed. on each side of the chair a lower extension of the back-rest 326 i pivoted at 339 to a lower link 328 arranged below the plane of the seat 322 and swingably mounted at 332 on an adjustable bracket 332 of a pedestal or support 322. A roller 336 loosely and shiftably engaged with the seat 322 is rotatably mounted at the front end of each lower link 328.

On each side of the chair above-mentioned pin 39% of the back-rest 325 is slidably engaged with a slot 302 of the bracket 332 of the support 322. Said pin 398 and slot 322 constitute cooperating guiding means slidably engaged with each other.

Above described link-system constitutes a constrained complex linkage. The sitting position of the movable links of said constrained complex linkage is limited by an abutment of the seat 322 against forwardly projecting arms of the bracket 3%. Compression spring 3% arranged between each of said forwardly projecting arms of the bracket 33B and each of the lower links 328 tend to urge the movable links of the chair into the sitting position shown in full lines. When the user of the chair tilts the back-rest 326 backwardly into a reclined position, for example into the position shown in dash and dot lines, the seat 222 is also tilted into the position shown in dash and dot lines. The movable members of the chair may be returned from a reclined position into the sitting position when the occupant of the. chair relieves; the pressure on the back-rest and shifts. his; weight. somewhat iQrWerdlyt The compression springs, 3,462 acting as a. load on the lower links. 3.2a assistin the return of the movable; members into. the sitting position.

The; chair is provided at. each of its; sides with an arm-rest. 3:43 pivoted to the, back-rest. 326 at 350 and pivoted; to. a bar 354' at 352. The bar 354 is swingablv mountedon the seat 322 at 356 According to. the. embodiment of an Ofi'lCechair shown in Fig. 9, the seat 42-2 is: pivoted: to. the back-rest 42.6 at 424'. The back-rest is, pivoted at 431); to the lower link 428; the latter is swingably mounted on the bracket. 434 of the support 425 at 432: and: carries atv its front end: a roller 436 shiftably' engaged with the lower surface of the seat- 4'22. According to; Fig. 9,. however, the pivot; 49 8: of the back-rest 426. sl-idably engaged with the slot 45!] of the bracket43'4 is: spaced from the pivotal connection 424. between theback-rest 42.62 and the seat 422.

Compression springs 446 arranged between the bracket 43a. and each. of the lower links 628 tend to urge the movable members of" the chair into the sitting position limited by an abutment of the seat 422 against the forwardly extending arms of the bracket 4341 The rear end of the arm-rest 44-8 is pivoted: at 455'- to the back-rest. 426. The front end of said arm-rest: 448i is pivoted at 452 to a bar 454 pivoted at its other end to: the seat 422 at 456 The armchair shown in Figs. 10 and- 11 has a support 520. comprising connected: side frames 5191 and 52 II. The back-rest'526 is pivoted at 524 to the: rear portion of the seat 522 and at 530- to the rear portion of lower links 528- swingably mounted: on the support 525 at 532. Th upwardly extending front end of each lower link 528 carries a roller 536 loosely and shiftably engaged with the seat 522.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, on eachside of the chair, the seat 522 is provided with a pin 599 projecting from the side of the seat. Each pin spaced from the pivotal connection 524 between the back-rest 526- and seat 522 is slidably engaged with a recess or slot 501 arranged on a; side frame of the support 520.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair is limited by a stop 584 arranged on the support forcooperation with the back-rest 52 G. The extreme reclined position of the movable member ofthe chair is limited by the rear wall 5W of the support against which the backrest 526 may abut.

On each side of the chair one arm 58I of a bell-crank lever 583- swingably mounted onthe support 529 at 585 is in engagement with the; back-rest 526'. According tothe embodiment shown in Fig. 1! said arm- 581 carries a pin 587 slidably and rotatably engaged with a slot 589 of theback-rest.

llhe other arm 585- of the said controlling bellcrank lever 583' is pivoted at 59! portion of a controlling link 578, the front end of which is pivoted at 516 to aleg-rest 512 swingably mounted on the seat 522 at 514.

When the back-rest 526 and seat 522 are, sitting position shown in full brought from the lines into a reclined position shown in dash and dot lines, the leg-rest is propelled from the position shown in full lines into the position shown in dash and dot lines by means ofthe controlling mechanism 583, 518 connected with the leg-rest and the back-rest. The slot, 589 on the, back-rest to the rear end my invention but it is,

can be omitted and the arm 51: of the bell-crank lever 583 can be pivoted to the back-rest, if the slot 501 guiding the pin 589 of the seat 522 is of such a. shape that a pivot connecting the back-rest 52.6. with the arm 58! ofthe controlling bell crank lever 583, i moved along a circular path, the center of which coincides with the axis of the. pivot 585.

The controlling mechanism 583, 51.8: permits a swinging movement of the leg-rest. 512' about its pivot 574 to a great extent although the back rest52fi may be tilted only slightly.

The leg-rest 5l2 connected to the back-rest 52:; through its controlling mechanism 583, 51:8: acts as a load on the movable links of the chair and contributes to a return movement of said.- movable. links from a reclined position into the; sit ting position.

I have described preferred embodiments of understood thatv this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well: as: the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein. shown and described. may bemade with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims;

What I claim is:

l. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotallyconnected links: in cluding a seat and a backrest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, saidlower link being swingably mounted atan intermediate point of its length. upon said support, the front end portion of. said. lower link being shiftaoly engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted'to said back-rest, and gui ing means con nected to said support and engaged with at least one link of said pair of pivota-ily connected links.

2. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of'pivotally connected links in cluding a seat anda back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of' the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, guiding means connected tosaid'support and engaged with at least onelink of said pair of pivotally connected links, and biasing means connected with a link of theartrcle, said biasing means being operative tourgethe movable links of the article from a recline-cl position towards the sitting position.

3'. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links irrcluding a seat and a back-rest, a lower link ar ranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediatepoint of its length upon said support, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat. the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to; said back rest; guiding means connected to said: support and engaged with at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links; and stopping means arranged on said article; for V cooperation with a movable link thereof soas to;

limit an extreme position of. said movable links, said stopping means being adjustable.

4. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of luding. a. seat, anda back-rest, a: lower link, a!

pivotally connected links in-- ranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, guiding means connected to said support and engaged with at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links, a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front end portion 'of theseat, and controlling means responsive to movements of said movable links of the article, said controlling means being connected to said swingable leg-rest for controlling movements of the latter.

5. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat. the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, guiding means con nected to said support and engaged with at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links. a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front portion of the seat, a controlling element swingably mounted on said support and connected to one of said links, and a controlling link connected to said. controlling element and to said leg-rest for controlling movements of the latter.

6. In a reclining article of furniture as clain :i in claim 5, said controlling element being in shape of a bell-crank lever.

7. A reclining article of furniture COil'lp a support, a pair of pivotally connected link cluding a seat and a back-rest, a lower link ar ranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link bein pivoted to said back-rest, and a guiding link swingably mounted on said support and pivoted to at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links.

8. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link ar ranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, a guiding link swingasly mounted on said support and pivoted to at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links, and biasing means connected with a link of the article, said biasing means being operative to urge the movable links of the article from a reclined position towards the sitting position.

9. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected link including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, a guiding link swingably mounted on said support and pivoted to at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links,

and resilient means acting on one of the links of the article for moving its movable links from a reclined positiontowards the sitting position.

10. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted at an intermediate point of its length upon said support the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, a guiding link swingably mounted on said support and pivoted to at least one link of said pair of pivotally connected links, a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front end portion of the seat, a controlling element swingably mounted on said support and rigidly connected with said guiding link, and a controlling link pivoted to said controlling element and to said leg-rest.

11. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 7, said guiding link being pivotally ccnnected with said back-rest in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection between said back-rest and said seat.

12. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 7, said guiding link being pivotally connected with said back-rest in coaxial alignment with the pivotal connection between said back-rest and said seat, and resilient means arranged between said support and one of the links of the article for moving its movable link from a reclined position towards the sitting position.

13. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 7, said guiding link being pivotally connected to said seat at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat.

14. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 7, said guiding link being pivotally connected to said seat at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat, and resilient means arranged between said support and said guiding link for moving the movable links of the article from a reclined position towards the sitting position.

15. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 7, said guiding link being pivotally connected to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the backrest and the seat.

16. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 7, said guiding link being pivotally connected to said back-rest at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the backrest and the seat, a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front end portion of the seat, a controlling element swingably mounted on said support and rigidly connected with said guiding link, and a controlling link pivoted to said controlling element and to said leg-rest.

17. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted on said support at an intermediate point thereof, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, and cooperating guiding means slidably engaged with each other and arranged 9 on said support and at least one of the links of said pair of pivotally connected links.

18. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted on said support at an intermediate point thereof, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, cooperating guiding means slidably engaged with each other and arranged on said support and at least one of the links of said pair of pivotally connected links, and biasing means connected with a link of the article, said biasing means being operative to urge the movable links of the article from a reclined position towards the sitting position.

19. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted on said support at an intermediate point thereof, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, cooperating guiding means slidably engaged with each other and arranged on said support and at least one of the links of said pair of pivotally connected links, and resilient means acting on one of the links of the article for moving its movable links from a reclined position towards the sitting position.

20. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted on said support at an intermediate point thereof, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, cooperating guiding means slidably engaged with each other and arranged on said support and at least one of the links of said pair of pivotally connected links, a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front end portion of the seat, and controlling means connected to one of said movable links of the article and to said leg-rest for controlling the movements of the latter.

21. A reclining article of furniture comprising: a support, a pair of pivotally connected links including a seat and a back-rest, a lower link arranged below the plane of the seat, said lower link being swingably mounted on said support at an intermediate point thereof, the front end portion of said lower link being shiftably engaged with the front end portion of said seat, the rear end portion of said lower link being pivoted to said back-rest, cooperating guiding means slidably engaged with each other and arranged on said support and at least one of the links of said pair of pivotally connected links, a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front end portion of the seat, a double-arm controlling element swingably mounted on said support, one arm of said controlling element being in pivotal connection with said back-rest, and a controlling link in pivotal connection with the other arm of said controlling element and with said leg-rest.

22. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 17, a pin and slot connection between said support and said back-rest, said pin being spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat.

23. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 17, a pin and slot connection between said support and said back-rest, said pin being spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat, and resilient means arranged between said support and one of the links of the article for moving its movable links from a reclined position towards the sitting position.

24. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 17, a pin and slot connection between said support and said seat, said pin being spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat.

25. In a reclining article of furniture as claimed in claim 1'7, a pin and slot connection between said support and said seat, said pin being spaced from the pivotal connection between the back-rest and the seat, a leg-rest swingably mounted at the front end portion of the seat, a double arm controlling element swingably mounted on said support, one arm of said controlling element being in pivotal connection with said back-rest, and a controlling link in pivotal connection with the other arm of said controlling element and with said leg-rest.

ANTON LORENZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,438,667 Schops Dec. 12, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,807 Great Britain 1902 53,406 Netherlands Apr. 25, 1938 

